Shared living after graduation: how to find housemates who fit your life

What is a modern shared home?

A woongroep is a group of people who choose to live together. Residents have space of their own and share some of the home and everyday life. Arrangements differ: some groups regularly eat together, while others mainly meet in the kitchen. A private bathroom or scheduled group activities are not automatic features.

Here, modern shared living means choosing to live with housemates after university. You do not need identical beliefs, hobbies or schedules. What matters is whether your expectations of home fit together. Calling a home a woongroep does not, by itself, determine its rental contract or the rules that apply to the property.

You may also see the terms housemates, home sharing or co-living. Co-living is sometimes used for managed housing with services. Hausmates is not a property manager or landlord: members post their available room and contact each other directly.

What works for your life?

Company is a common reason to share. There may be someone to eat with, go for a walk with or talk to about your day. Sharing also takes coordination: the living room may already be in use, someone may get up earlier and the kitchen will not clean itself.

Start with your own needs. What helps you feel rested at home? You might want to cook together twice a week but spend other evenings alone. You may work from home and need quiet at particular times. Say what you are not looking for too. This is not a rejection of someone else; it is an honest starting point.

A shared home is not automatically cheaper or more sociable than every other option. Compare the actual rent, additional costs, space and agreements in each listing. Then ask whether you would enjoy an ordinary Wednesday there.

Choose housemates by daily life, not just interests

Shared music taste is nice, but it does not tell you who does the washing-up. Alongside interests, discuss work and study schedules, working from home, cleaning, visitors, noise, cooking and privacy. Similarities can help; differences need not be a problem if you can agree on them.

Treat a profile as a conversation starter, not proof of a perfect match. Hausmates lets you share your daily rhythm, interests, languages and home habits. An introduction and your own answers to profile prompts add something personal. Ask follow-up questions about anything important to you.

Be specific yourself. “I am tidy” means different things to different people. “I wipe the kitchen counter after cooking and put my things away that evening” is clearer. You do not need to make yourself sound more sociable or polished than you are: you are looking for a home, not an award.

Six questions for a first conversation

Arrange an introduction and, where possible, a viewing with the people who live there. Talk about how you use the home as well as the room itself. Ask open questions and share your own examples to keep the conversation personal and practical.

Do not try to agree on everything immediately. Notice how you discuss differences. Can you calmly say you prefer something else? Does everyone listen? A small agreement that everyone understands is worth more than a vague “we will work it out”.

• What does a weekday evening look like for you?
• What does a clean kitchen mean to you?
• How often do you work from home, and what quiet do you need?
• How should we handle friends, partners and overnight guests?
• What would you enjoy doing together, and when do you want time alone?
• How do you bring up something that is not working at home?

Make small, clear agreements

Write down the important agreements before anyone moves in. This is not about controlling everything; it helps prevent misunderstandings. A simple shared document can cover everyday house agreements, but it does not replace a rental contract.

Discuss rent and additional costs, internet, shared purchases and how you track expenses. Will you keep a household fund? Who pays for a new kettle? Who owns the furniture, and what happens when someone leaves? Be explicit about which belongings are personal and which everyone can use.

Agree on cleaning, visitors and how to raise concerns. A short check-in after a few weeks can help you adjust arrangements. Discuss departures and finding a new housemate too. Notice and contract changes must remain consistent with the rental agreement and applicable rules.

Check the home, contract and registration

View the home and check who is authorised to rent out the room. Ask for a written agreement and read it before paying or signing. Check base rent, service costs, deposit, included facilities, the condition of the room and maintenance arrangements. Take photos at handover and record what is supplied.

Ask what kind of contract you will have. Are you renting your own room directly, signing jointly with residents or renting from a main tenant? Responsibility for payments, replacement residents and ending the agreement may differ. Do not assume you are liable only for your own share. Ask an independent housing adviser to explain unclear clauses.

Discuss address registration before committing. Notify the municipality of your move following the current government instructions. If a listing says registration is not possible, ask why and check with the municipality yourself. Do not draw conclusions about the landlord or your rights without investigating.

Whether home sharing or room rental is permitted depends on the property, contract and municipal rules. Check permission and any permits with the landlord and Groningen municipality. A listing or the name woongroep is not proof that everything has been arranged. This guide is general information, not individual legal advice.

Find a shared home in Groningen

Start with your needs: a move-in date, an achievable monthly budget and an area that fits your everyday life. Then browse the available listings. Being near work or your regular cycle routes may be useful; the best neighbourhood is the one that fits your situation.

On Hausmates, you can filter homes by neighbourhood, move-in date and maximum rent. Read who lives there and what they are looking for. To respond, introduce yourself with your moving plans and a personal note. Your introduction starts a conversation where you can get to know each other.

If you have a room available, post it for free with real photos, clear costs, availability and an honest description of life at home. Everyone can take part: the focus on life after university is not an entry requirement. Hausmates charges no subscription or contact fees and does not guarantee a room, reply or match.